Sportsbet Hoping The Sea Eagles Soar

When Australian bookmaker Sportsbet which offers up to $250 in bonus bets for new customers paid out early on Manly as Minor Premiers they thought the result was inevitable. But now with 2 rounds of NRL remaining the Sea Eagles have a fight on their hands to be top at the end of the regular season. In round 21, Sportsbet paid out punters who tipped the Sea Eagles as Minor Premiers after Manly moved 4 points clear at the top of the table, but since then the league leaders have slipped while the Rabbits have risen.

In fact the Sea Eagles trip up against Parramatta gave South Sydney a Golden chance to steal first place but the Bunnies fluffed their lines against the Cowboys. As it stands Manly are still 2 points better off than Souths but have a much weaker for and against. The Bunnies again have the chance to leap-frog them if they beat the Bulldogs on Thursday night, but Manly can respond against the Panthers on Sunday.

The Sea Eagles are showing signs of a team easing off late in the season before preparing for a finals push. That was evident when they gave up a 12 nil half time lead against the Eels last round, a match where Sportsbet refunded customers who put a head to head bet on Manly to win that game. Their back at Brookvale this weekend and will be keen to put things right against a Penrith side on a quick turn around.

After 2 contrasting Monday night matches at home, the Panthers will return to a more regular time slot on Sunday. They’ll also be hoping to return to the form that saw them win 3 straight games before the Storm sunk them 24-10 at the foot of the mountain. Hooker James Segeyaro should return to the side, he missed the Melbourne match after his father passed away. Condolences to Seggy and let’s hope he can have a big impact in his next match.

While Punters who backed Manly to win the Minor Premiership can watch without fear, those who tipped Souths to finish top will be hoping the Panthers can pull of an upset. I’m sure Sportsbet will be secretly rooting for Manly as they wouldn’t the Rabbits to finish this race first.